The day book. (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, February 08, 1913, Image 2

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"I never heard of an elevatorwith one foot of space betweenits platform and the shaft wall.That would be 12 inches of spaceand would be dangerous. Whenwe find an elevator has two orthree inches of space between theelevator platform and the shaftwall, we advise that the space beclosed up in some way."Taylor was asked if he ever hadheard of an elevator in Chicagowhere there was two feet of spacebetween platform and shaft wall."No," he said, "I never heardof such an one and the department does not know of such anone."He was then told that severalwitnesses swore to such a condition in a Carson-Pirie-Scott elevator at the inquest held overLusch Thursday afternoon."With two feet of space to fallthrough?" he asked."Yes.""I can't possibly see why anyone should build that way," hesaid in a mildly surprised tone."It is very unusual. It is so exceptional that there is nothing inthe building laws to cover thecase."Taylor was asked if he wouldconsider such a condition dangerous to those working aboutthe shaft. He said he certainlywould.Taylor was then asked aboutthe law covering guards at the entrances to freight elevators. Heturned to page 160 of the building ordiances ,Sec. 688 (b), andpointed to the following:"All freight elevators shall beprovided with one guard at leastsix feet high.""That means," said Taylor,"that the guard must be six feethigh above elevator platform."Taylor was asked what wasmeant by a "guard." He pointedto a specimen cage in a corner of )the room."A wire screen or mesh likethat," he said.The screen guard was of steelwire with square spaces abouttwo inches in size.Taylor was asked if he wouldconsider chains running acrossthe' elevator entrance a sufficientguard and one in compliance with "the law.He said it would depend onhow close the chains were. Hewas asked if it would be a violation of the law if the highestchain were only four feet abovethe floor. He said it would.Taylor was then asked if heknew how it happened that theelevator inspection departmenthad no record of the peculiar arrangement in freight elevator No.25 in the basement of the Carson,Pine, Scott & Co. store, an arrangement which left a space oftwo feet between the edge of theelevator platform and the shaftwall, and which provided a guardonly of chains, the highest aboutfour feet from the elevator floor,for the elevator."No," said Taylor; "I don'tknow anything about that. Youwill have to ask the chief inspector about that."Chief Inspector Frank Gaynorwas not in his office at the time.